DEATH CONSENT ON

 

|   Name   |  Race  |    Class    | E Lev| CHP | HP  | AC  | For | Ref | Wil |

|Achala    |HALF-ORC|Ftr          |  4   | 11  | 34  | 13  |  8  |  4  |  1  |

|Zerridwyn |HIGH_ELF|Wiz          |  2   |  5  |  5  | 14  |  1  |  4  |  2  |

|Arianna   |HUMAN   |Rog          |  2   | 10  | 10  | 18  |  1  |  7  |  1  |

|Earth     |WAR_GOLE|Rgr          |  2   | 18  | 18  | 18  |  6  |  6  |  2  |

 

Encounter 1 – 2x Human Warrior Level 2 (CR1), 2x Human Warrior Level 3 (CR 1)

APL: 2.6

CR: 4

 

Encounter 2 – 1x Human Adept Level 4 (CR 2), 4x Human Warrior Level 1 (CR 1/2)

 

Veyshan- an exotic land, far to the south of Alexandria, a land of great diversity and great danger. From the rich gold coast to the desolate deserts. And the locale for today's adventure. The guild of explorers has contracted the group to guard a caravan from the Archeologist's Guild to a dig site they are starting up in the Veyshan desert. They have traveled first by airship to the port-town of Samak, where they are currently negotiating for provisions, a caravan, camels- all the essentials for an expedition into the desert. Most of this is being done by the archeologists themselves. Soon, the group is ready to depart and head off into the desert.

 

Earth has remained stoic and mostly silent during the trip thus far. The golem has an unnerving habit of standing perfectly still for long periods of time when nothing much is happening, such as a airship trip. For much of the voyage, he might've just been mistaken for a piece of cargo which moves upon occassion. Now that it looks like departure is imminent he stays nearby and waits, featureless head turning left and right to survey the landscape.

 

"Oh, this is so exciting!" declares Zerridwyn, almost bouncing off the walls. "I've always wanted to see Veyshan! I've heard so many fantastic things about the great, beautiful deserts!" She rabbits on at some length about how amazing this adventure is going to be. Very noisy, this elf.

 

Achala ends up purchasing a length of linen to wrap around his head, as well as a light cloak to cover his breastplate. As he watches over the haggling archaeologists, he wipes his brow.

 

"I think it's rather warm." Arriana responds rather mildly to Zerridwyn's enthusiasm and also stops to wipe a bit of sweat from her forehead. Fortunately, she always dresses fairly lightly, and so she isn't drenched the way others might find themselves to be. There is a lot more to see than to say, and so the girl is quietly exploring their surroundings as they travel. "The deserts are nice... Doesn't the heat bother you, though?" Directed to the noisy, noisy elf, of course.

 

"You are very loud." Earth says in a montone to Zerridwyn, not actually sounding partciularly annoyed. It is more as though he is simply starting an unusual fact. The discussion from Arriana earns a comment from the stoic golem as well. "I understand it is difficult for most creatures to survive in this environment."

 

And finally, the preperations are finished. The group are ready to depart! They've even hired a local as a guide, who'll be showing them the way through the desert to the dig site- he doesn't seem particularly entheusiastic, claiming that area of the desert is haunted, or cursed or something. It's about a day's journey from the town, and the sun is searing overhead already. This should be... 'fun'.

 

Achala forms up, leaning on one of his javelins as a walking stick. He slings an extra waterskin, but only sips small amounts at a time. Then, he starts out, and adds to Earth: "It may be, but plenty lives in wastelands, if you know where to look."

 

"Yes, I'm quite hot!" says Zerridwyn, rolling her shoulders. "The sun is so bright here! Are we closer to the sun? I've never been this far South before..." Blah blah blah. Eventually, she takes off her big cold weather wizard robe and folds it up. "Oof, it's really quite sweltering. I should have thought to prepare some spells for this weather." The elf tugs at her rather weather-inappropriate bodysuit.

 

GAME: Arianna rolls fortitude: (11)+1: 12

GAME: Achala rolls fort -4: (18)+8+-4: 22

GAME: Zerridwyn rolls fort: (7)+1: 8

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d4: (4): 4

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d4: (4): 4

 

Earth doesn't seem particularly bothered by the heat, trudging along across the sands without any change in his expressionless facade. "This sand will be unpleasant to clean." Is the extent of his complaining about the terrain.

 

Achala sips at his water sparingly, then pauses to pull off his armour. He attaches it to his pack, and continues onwards, looking rather concerned and vulnerable now.

 

"Closer to the sun? I thought the sun was above us still..." Arianna is looking upward toward the sky now. She raises a hand to shield her eyes as she does. She blinks a few times, but continues to trudge onward. She's sweating more, as time passes, step after weary step. "Unpleasant to... Clean. True, it will be that." The heat is obviously getting to her, but rather than complain she is drinking copious amounts of water. It isnt' as if she's dead.

 

Zerridwyn is not taking this well in the slightest. She has stopped blabbing about everything she sees and has gone silent. The elf is barely dragging herself along, teetering on the edge of collapsing from the heat.

 

The journey is pretty uneventful for now- rolling dunes, baking sun. The group is traveling for about an hour before they see anything or anyone- Eventually, in the distance they begin to see... forms. It's hard to make them out well, they seem to exist entirely of shadows and rags to begin with, staying on the very edge of your visual range. It's dificult to make out for certain what they are.

 

Achala crouches down, looking for shade. Somewhere, anywhere, really. Behind tall doesn't help this at all. He asks: "You see them too?"

 

The guide looks back to the group, and he holds up his hand. "Careful- raiders from the nomad tribes, sometimes attack travelers here." he says, and gestures to one of the groups of flittering shadows. "They attack when we become tired." he explains, and casts a worried glance to Zerri.

 

"Already tired," mutters Zerridwyn. She looks like she wants to lie down and go to sleep right there, which is a very bad thing in the middle of the desert.

 

"Tired is... Definitely a concern," Aria manages, puffing just a little bit. She sticks close to the elf for the moment, looking somewhat concerned. She keeps a hand, however, closer to her bow than the woman beside her. Tired or not, one needs to defend themselves. "That woul probably be them, then. We've been out here just long enough... Mmm."

 

"You need not be concerned. I will not tire." Earth replies to the guide. The comments from the women earn another look from the golem. "Hmm. Perhaps there is cause for concern after all." His gaze returns to the figures on the horizon.

 

Achala keeps low, and growls to the guide: "Keep everyone moving, then."

 

The group travels for a little while longer, but eventually there is a cry in the distance- a battle charge, and the shadows come running towards the group. Accustomed to the desert as they are, they move across it with unnerving speed.

 

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22 Achala

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17 Earth

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13 Raider1

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9 Arianna

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8 Raider2

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7 Raider3

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7 Raider4

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5 Zerridwyn

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GAME: Earth rolls 1d20+6: (19)+6: 25

GAME: Earth rolls 1d8+5: (4)+5: 9

 

Earth brings the longbow from the strap across his back into his hands, nocking an arrow on the bowstring in the same fluid movement. He looks straight at the leading member of the robed figures, taking a second to line up the shot before he lets it loose. The arrow flies forward with lightning speed, landing solidly in the figure's torso and bringing it down upon the sand.

 

Achala wipes his brow and measures the range, then drops his javelin point down into the sand. Trotting forwards, he draws both swords, the edges glittering in the harsh sun.

 

GAME: Arianna rolls weapon7-1: (11)+5+-1: 15

GAME: Arianna rolls 1d6: (4): 4

 

Arianna stops long enough to run a gloved hand across her forehead, scattering beads of sweat. It's the same motion that pulls her bow down from her shoulders and then an arrow quickly follows. She draws the bow back, steadying her legs despite the slight swaying of exhaustion. Raider #2 takes an arrow in the shoulder.

 

GAME: Zerridwyn casts enlarge person.

GAME: Zerridwyn rolls hide-1: (8)+4+-1: 11

 

Zerridwyn musters enough consciousness to focus on Achala and start casting magic. She fumbles with her spell components and incants the mystic words. And Achala grows to twice his height, and most notably so do his weapons. The elven wizard tries to look insignificant and unnoticeable after that.

 

GAME: Achala rolls 1d20+9: (5)+9: 14

GAME: Achala rolls 1d20+9: (12)+9: 21

GAME: Achala rolls 1d8+5: (1)+5: 6

 

Achala advances, sand spalling around his feet as he grows larger. He moves forwards, shade growing in his wake. He thrusts too high over one raider's head, then chops downwards, crashing his sword into the same fighter's clavicle, snapping it with a dry sound and sending him crashing to the ground, bleeding profusely.

 

GAME: Earth rolls 1d20+6: (7)+6: 13

 

Earth knocks another arrow in his bow, head swiveling to focus on the next raider. He aims and lets the arrow fly, but the combination of the desert wind and sand make it difficult. The arrow misses by a good foot or two, kicking up a small cloud of dust as it impacts a nearby dune.

 

GAME: Arianna rolls weapon7-1: (2)+5+-1: 6

 

Fatigue is a bitter foe. Sweat running into the girl's eyes, knees shaking just a bit.. Nowhere near enough moisture. And then the sands, on top of it. The arrow is swept well off course and lands amongst the dunes. Discretion being the part of valor, Aria makes her way to find cover, taking her cue from Zerridwyn.

 

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+6: (1)+6: 7

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+6: (10)+6: 16

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d6+1: (3)+1: 4

GAME: Chiddle damaged Achala for 4 points. 30 remaining.

 

The warriors move up around Achala even as arrows fly past them, thudding into the already blood-soaked sand next to one of the already fallen ones. One scimitar comes down on Achala's back, slicing a shallow cut into his back.

 

GAME: Zerridwyn casts ray of frost.

GAME: Zerridwyn rolls ranged: (6)+4: 10

 

Zerridwyn crawls up to the edge of the dune and peeks over. Watching the battle carefully, she casts another spell, pointing out at the enemies. A thin ray of frosty blue lances out and strikes a spot of sand near their feet. A patch becomes frozen for only a few seconds, then melts and evaporates.

 

GAME: Achala rolls 1d20+9: (11)+9: 20

GAME: Achala rolls 1d20+9: (18)+9: 27

GAME: Achala rolls 1d8+8: (6)+8: 14

GAME: Achala rolls 1d8+5: (8)+5: 13

 

Achala steps back, turning his feet and hips in the soft sand, his attention caught by the sword-gash. He shoves his sword into the raider's abdomen, a cruel twist opening his gut. He drops, screaming and sliding from Achala's oversized sword. Then, the half-orc turns back, stepping on the diagonal, catching the other raider coming it with a backhanded true-edged cut that goes past a late parry, gashing the neck and dropping him to the sand, neck floppy. There's a lot of blood, but its in the sand more than anything.

Achala stands there, as the fight stops abruptly, chest heaving with the exertion.

 

As the two of them drop, a cry goes up from the others still waiting on the horizon, and another small group begin charging towards the adventurers. This one seems to be headed up by some kind of Shaman or another.

 

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20 Arianna

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19 Warrior1

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17 Earth

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15 Warrior4

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10 Zerridwyn

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7 Achala

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7 Warrior3

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6 Warrior2

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1 Shaman

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GAME: Arianna rolls weapon7-1: (11)+5+-1: 15

GAME: Arianna rolls 1d6: (5): 5

 

Arianna manages to loose an arrow straight this time. Some combination of the wind and being close to the ground keeps sweat from pouring into her eyes, and so she's able to line up the shot. The girl is rewarded by the cries of an injured shaman, the arrow shaft sticking out from his clothes along his ribs... And then she's leaping aside, almost rolling in the sand. Far, far too close.

 

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+2: (3)+2: 5

 

At a cry by the Shaman, the group advancing finally charges in- it seems like this one is their leader. One of the warriors makes a dash for Arianna, and swings the curved blade towards her, missing and scattering sand to the wind.

 

GAME: Earth rolls 1d20+6: (7)+6: 13

GAME: Earth rolls 1d8+6: (4)+6: 10

 

Earth smoothly moves another arrow to his bowstring. He says a few words while he takes the time to aim. As he speaks, he does so in the same calm tone he nearly always uses, despite the frenzied battle going on in the desert around him. "With semi-civilized opponents, one can often scatter and demoralize them by slaying the apparent leader." The arrow flies squarely into the shaman, piercing straight through him and knocking him to the sand. "Like so."

 

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+2: (10)+2: 12

 

 

Another of the warriors launches himself at Achala, bringing a blade towards him, only to be deflected by one of Achala's own blades.

 

GAME: Zerridwyn casts grease.

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+1: (17)+1: 18

 

Zerridwyn narrows her eyes at the oncoming warriors and conjures a slippery grease. It slimes out of the air itself like some kind of ectoplasm, but the warrior moves his weapon out of the way too quickly for the slippery stuff to adhere.

 

GAME: Achala rolls 1d20+9: (8)+9: 17

GAME: Achala rolls 1d20+9: (15)+9: 24

GAME: Achala rolls 1d8+8: (1)+8: 9

GAME: Achala rolls 1d8+5: (1)+5: 6

 

Achala drives past the raider's guard, winding his sword around to stab his opponent's shoulder and supressing the weapon. Then he steps through, punching into the face with the cross-guard, knocking him out, mouth a bloody ruin.

 

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8

 

The advancing warriors launch themselves at Earth, as they desperately try to avenge their Shaman. The two of them slam their blades against his hard plating, their weapons deflected easily aside.

 

GAME: Arianna rolls weapon3-1: (3)+3+-1: 5

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+2: (19)+2: 21

GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d20+2: (17)+2: 19

GAME: Chiddle rolls 2d6+2: (9)+2: 11

GAME: Chiddle damaged Arianna for 11 points. -1 remaining.

 

Things are pretty hectic on the ground. Arianna rolls aside from the first swing successfully, with sand going up in clouds around her. She drops her bow immediately, hand going to the sword at her belt and pulls it free of its sheath. Just in time for a well-placed blow to send her tumbling through the sand like a dead weight. Oops. There's blood and broken links of chain... Bleeding means not dead, at least.

 

GAME: Earth rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16

GAME: Earth rolls 1d20+4: (20)+4: 24

GAME: Earth rolls 1d20+4: (19)+4: 23

GAME: Earth rolls 1d8+4: (7)+4: 11

GAME: Earth rolls 3d6+6: (12)+6: 18

 

Earth drops his longbow to the sand when the two warriors rush him. There is no sign of fear or agitation in his movements as each hand draws a hammer from the belt of weapons he carries with him. One gets smacked in the ribcage with the larger hammer, while the smaller one practically splatters the head of the other foe. Both drop, vanquished.

 

GAME: Zerridwyn rolls hide-1: (4)+4+-1: 7

 

Zerridwyn is out of magic and her fatigue makes her feel uncertain about trying to pull back the string on her bow very well. So she ducks down behind the dune again. Unfortunately, she does not seem to notice that she still stands out like an elf in a bodysuit in the middle of a desert.

 

GAME: Achala rolls 1d20+13: (2)+13: 15

GAME: Achala rolls 1d8+8: (4)+8: 12

 

Achala turns, and spits a curse, sweat stinging his eyes as he takes great loping strides across the sand. He crashes his sword through an flat of the blade parry attempt, burying one sword into the chest of the last raider. He drops, bleeding and insensate, as Achala kicks him off of his sword.

 

With this second group defeated, the raiders seem hesitant, especially given the fall of their Shaman. Two of them pick up their Shaman, and begin backing up, apparently happy to cut their losses. They don't bother picking up the warriors, though.

 

GAME: Achala used a Potion of Cure Light Wounds.

GAME: Achala rolls 1d8+1: (6)+1: 7

GAME: Chiddle damaged Arianna for -7 points. 6 remaining.

 

Achala gathers himself, then drops to one knee, feeding Arianna a vial from his belt pouch. Its really only then that he stops to watch the raiders retreating. Wiping his blades with sand, he reaches for his waterskin.

 

Once the raiders have made enough distance, they turn tail and retreat in earnest. With Achala healed up and back on her feet, the group are able to continue onwards to the dig site. Once the camp is set up, another group of mercenary guards show up to relieve the adventurers, and they are sent back to the city.